Mayor killed in armed attack, north of Mosul: Police

or Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) An armed attack by unidentified gunmen has left a mayor killed in north of Mosul, a security source from Nineveh police said on Sunday.

“Unidentified gunmen opened fire against mayor of al-Rashidiya town, Hilal Hussein Ali, near his house at al-Qubba region, which caused his immediate death,” Cap. Amir Wathiq told BasNews.

“Security troops cordoned off the region and conducted investigations. Five of the residents were arrested over involvement in the incidents,” he added.

Last week, seventeen Islamic State members were killed and arrested in an operation in al-Jazra region, south of Mosul. Sixty IS members were killed as Iraqi army, police and al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) launched a wide-scale security campaign on Saturday evening, targeting Islamic State militants in the region.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared in July victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city since 2014. More than 25,000 Islamic State militants were killed throughout the campaign. Earlier this month, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary troops, have been fighting since October 2016 to retake territories Islamic State had occupied.

The war against IS has displaced nearly five million people, with tens of thousands of civilians and militants killed since the launch of the offensives to recapture occupied cities.